Times of chaos and fear can create a trance state in each of us. Last week I got together with some wise older woman healers and we agreed on a daily practice to decrease fear and separation.

To break the trance of fear and pain, look someone in the eye in a sustained and loving way for a few seconds each day. It could be in a store, or at work, or in your family. You’ll be surprised at how many strangers are willing to make eye contact. Everyone is hungry for real connection. In the right circumstances and with the right people it can also be nourishing to touch the person’s arm.

Peter Levine, Somatic Experiencing therapist, related that when he was in a major car accident, there was one thing that prevented him from going into shock and having Post Traumatic Stress syndrome. This one thing was that a total stranger came over to his side, made sustained eye contact, and held his hand before the paramedics came. We are social creatures and eye contact re-regulates and protects our nervous system. If this kind of connection can re-regulate someone during a severe accident, it can break the trance of fear and separation now.

Since we are all experiencing trauma at this time, please if you can, make some sustained caring eye contact with someone each day. And, if you can hold someone’s hand please do that too. This is why we are here.